Motherwell 1-0 Dundee United

Motherwell recorded only their second home win of the season with a 1-0 victory over leaders Dundee United in caretaker-manager Kenny Black's first game in charge since the departure of Stuart McCall.Iain Vigurs got the all-important goal at the start of the second half for the struggling Steelmen to move them five points clear of Ross County and above St Mirren at the foot of the table.United saw their five-game unbeaten run come to an end and could now concede top spot depending on the weekend's results.Ryan Dow posed an early threat for the visitors, latching on to a long ball into the channel and advancing into the area where his goal-bound shot was blocked by Stephen McManus.United were looking dangerous on the counter and Dan Twardzik did well to save from Blair Spittal's curling effort which deflected off Dow before the United man was flagged offside.They created another good chance as Spittal fed the run of the advancing full-back Conor Townsend who controlled on his chest before his shot from 12 yards was blocked behind for a corner.From another United corner, a Motherwell breakaway almost gave them the lead. The ball was cleared wide to Lionel Ainsworth who exchanged passes with Henrik Ojamaa before the Estonian was dispossessed by Paul Paton but Vigurs was on hand to gather the ball and fire over the bar.United went even closer as play surged up the other end, a threaded pass by Aidan Connolly finding Spittal who toe-poked wide.Chris Erskine then stung the palms of Twardzik from the edge of the area before a deflected Connolly effort almost looped over the Motherwell goalkeeper who did well to get up and tip the ball over.Motherwell created the best chance of the match so far with some wonderful football just after the restart.Impressive one-touch play between Vigurs and Ainsworth ended with the winger feeding the ball to Craig Reid who cut inside from left-back and brought a save from Radoslaw Cierzniak.The keeper could only push the ball wide to Ainsworth, who was desperately unlucky to see his effort crack off the inside of the post and fly across goal to safety.The home side were not to be denied for long, though, and Vigurs opened the scoring with their next attack after 51 minutes.A ball from Keith Lasley found its way through to the former Ross County man, who took a touch to steady himself before firing a low left-foot effort across Cierzniak.They thought they had doubled that advantage soon after as Ojamaa sent Ainsworth clear but he was denied by a late and dubious-looking offside flag as the ball trickled into the net.Ojamaa then went close with a stunning effort, cutting in from the left onto his right foot before crashing an effort agonisingly over the opposite junction of crossbar and post from 20 yards.United had lost their way a little after having the better chances in the opening period but a great run and cross by Paton almost brought them level, his deep ball finding his opposite full-back Townsend at the back post who should have done better than head over when unmarked.There was a scramble in the Motherwell area soon after as Nadir Ciftci got beyond Twardzik on the left and fired the first of a series of balls across the area before John Rankin's effort was deflected into the grateful grasp of the keeper.The visitors almost snatched an equaliser in the dying seconds as Armstrong centred for Townsend whose diving header crept over the bar.Ojamaa almost sealed the points with an impressive run and shot that Cierzniak saved with his left foot.ends